When I was the sports reporter for BBC Radio 1 for 8 years, I spent a lot of time talking to and hearing from an exhaustive list of Premier League managers. One of them stood out above the rest for entertainment value – and that was Ian Holloway when he was in charge of Blackpool FC.

Ian Holloway is clearly a naturally funny man – and he also has a depth and emotional sensitivity that you can’t help but warm to.

A driving theme of this podcast is ego – and not letting the idea you have about yourself get in the way. Ian opens up about how hard he has been on himself throughout his life, and self-critical – so much so that he once had to take down all the mirrors in his house because he didn’t like looking at himself.

We also talk about emotional intelligence – and the time Ian went on a BBC programme called Stress Test to learn how to calm his temper down, at a time when showing vulnerability like that wasn’t as in vogue as it is now. Ian shares about how his experiences have helped him grow and evolve, not least looking after his wife through serious illness as well as raising three profoundly deaf children. As he says, we all get challenges and difficulties in life – and it’s about how we cope with them that matters.

In this episode we discuss:

• Relationships are the most important thing
• The best phrase for dealing with someone who is giving you stick
• Ego and how it leads us astray
• Emotional intelligence and what Ian Holloway learned going on the BBC programme The Stress Test  
• Some of the biggest challenges in Ian's life and how we all have difficulties, and it’s how we react that’s important
• When Ian's Dad died – and the transcendental experiences Ian subsequently had
• Self-care and the importance of doing something for yourself
• Recognising the feelings underneath anger – like a fear of failure or not being good enough
• The wisdom of Graham Taylor
• Laughter is the best medicine

Ian ranting about the Qatar World Cup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6PacW2fJV0

Ian's book: How to Be a Football Manager - Enter the hilarious and crazy world of the gaffer

https://www.waterstones.com/book/how-to-be-a-football-manager-enter-the-hilarious-and-crazy-world-of-the-gaffer/ian-holloway/9781472298591

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